Nice Older Bhutanese Dossum Dagger

laEspadaAncha · 9th July 2013, 04:40 AM

Hello All,

Acquired this in a trade not too long ago. Measures 41 cm overall in sheath with a 30 cm blade of wedge-shaped cross section. Pommel is silvered brass set with turquoise, while the sheath is made of different overlaid copper alloys.

Cheers,

Chris

asomotif · 9th July 2013, 06:39 AM

Very beautyfull dagger.

Unfortunately I know nothing about them (sorry

)

Best regards,
Willem

Sajen · 9th July 2013, 08:39 AM

Agree with Willem, very nice old example. Do have etched the blade?

Regards,

Detlef

laEspadaAncha · 9th July 2013, 06:01 PM

Thank you Detlef & Willem...

I have not etched the blade (without exception, each attempted etch I have undertaken has always produced entirely underwhelming results

), but the hairpin laminations are visibily evident even with the old etch/polish, so aside from some minimal oiling, it is my plan to leave it be.

Having only had one other older one pass thorugh my hands over the years, my exposure to comparable examples is largley limited to those I have researched here on the forum. Yet I do not recall seeing another example with the cord binding over the (top and bottom of the) shagreen...

Is this indicative of a regional variation?

I am also puzzled as to the significance of the green pigment visible on the blade-side of the base of the hilt. An auspicious addition, or purely an accidental application?

I've attached a couple additional photos, including one of the aforementioned pigmentation.

KraVseR · 10th July 2013, 07:29 AM

Wow, great! Do you have other Bhutanese weapons? Very interested!

laEspadaAncha · 11th July 2013, 04:11 AM

Sorry... but this is the one-and-only at present... thank you, though.

Thought it was also worth noting the Buddhist symbology worked into both sides of the center panel of the scabbard, the crossed vajra on the front, and the dharmachakra on the back.

No one has any ideas on the use of pigment where shown?

dennee · 11th July 2013, 08:29 PM

A very nice knife. The red cord is characteristic of many Bhutanese swords and knives.

See: http://www.bhutanstudies.org.bt/pubFiles/v5-8.pdf . And you'll find a bunch of photos if you search "Bhutan" on this site.

The green looks to me like a copper oxide on the brass "khaser", i.e., corrosion.

laEspadaAncha · 12th July 2013, 04:26 PM

Thank you, dennee for your thoughts - you are among the forumites that came to mind after reading through some of the Bhutan threads in the archive.

Unfortunately, another among us who likely would have something to say is no longer with us, though there are several others I am hoping will chime in when time allows - a certain brother in (antique) arms Down Under comes to mind...

In revisiting the document to which you had provided a link (originally downloaded after reading Tatyana's thread about a Bhutanese sword with a plated blade a couple years ago), I realize that the corded wrapping on the grip is indeed common. Thanks again for the link, and not knowing if the document has been updated (more pics?) from the iteration already on my desktop, I downloaded it again.

With regards to the green discoloration on the udnerside of the base of the hilt, after viewing it with a 20x loupe, I am still rather certain it is pigment.

Cheers,
Chris

KraVseR · 12th July 2013, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dennee

A very nice knife. The red cord is characteristic of many Bhutanese swords and knives.

See: http://www.bhutanstudies.org.bt/pubFiles/v5-8.pdf . And you'll find a bunch of photos if you search "Bhutan" on this site.

The green looks to me like a copper oxide on the brass "khaser", i.e., corrosion.

Thanks you!
Do you have the information about Bhutanese warriors?

laEspadaAncha · 13th July 2013, 09:53 PM

*Bump* in the hopes some of our other Tibetan or Bhutanese weapons enthusiasts missed this and might have something to add...

9th July 2013, 04:40 AM	#1
laEspadaAncha Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 608	Nice Older Bhutanese Dossum Dagger Hello All, Acquired this in a trade not too long ago. Measures 41 cm overall in sheath with a 30 cm blade of wedge-shaped cross section. Pommel is silvered brass set with turquoise, while the sheath is made of different overlaid copper alloys. Cheers, Chris Attached Images

9th July 2013, 06:01 PM	#4
laEspadaAncha Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 608	Thank you Detlef & Willem... I have not etched the blade (without exception, each attempted etch I have undertaken has always produced entirely underwhelming results ), but the hairpin laminations are visibily evident even with the old etch/polish, so aside from some minimal oiling, it is my plan to leave it be. Having only had one other older one pass thorugh my hands over the years, my exposure to comparable examples is largley limited to those I have researched here on the forum. Yet I do not recall seeing another example with the cord binding over the (top and bottom of the) shagreen... Is this indicative of a regional variation? I am also puzzled as to the significance of the green pigment visible on the blade-side of the base of the hilt. An auspicious addition, or purely an accidental application? I've attached a couple additional photos, including one of the aforementioned pigmentation. Attached Images Last edited by laEspadaAncha; 9th July 2013 at 06:23 PM.

9th July 2013, 06:39 AM	#2
asomotif Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 2,224	Very beautyfull dagger. Unfortunately I know nothing about them (sorry ) Best regards, Willem

9th July 2013, 08:39 AM	#3
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,761	Agree with Willem, very nice old example. Do have etched the blade? Regards, Detlef

10th July 2013, 07:29 AM	#5
KraVseR Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Ukraine Posts: 128	Wow, great! Do you have other Bhutanese weapons? Very interested!

11th July 2013, 04:11 AM	#6
laEspadaAncha Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 608	Sorry... but this is the one-and-only at present... thank you, though. Thought it was also worth noting the Buddhist symbology worked into both sides of the center panel of the scabbard, the crossed vajra on the front, and the dharmachakra on the back. No one has any ideas on the use of pigment where shown?

11th July 2013, 08:29 PM	#7
dennee Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: College Park, MD Posts: 186	A very nice knife. The red cord is characteristic of many Bhutanese swords and knives. See: http://www.bhutanstudies.org.bt/pubFiles/v5-8.pdf . And you'll find a bunch of photos if you search "Bhutan" on this site. The green looks to me like a copper oxide on the brass "khaser", i.e., corrosion.

12th July 2013, 04:26 PM	#8
laEspadaAncha Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 608	Thank you, dennee for your thoughts - you are among the forumites that came to mind after reading through some of the Bhutan threads in the archive. Unfortunately, another among us who likely would have something to say is no longer with us, though there are several others I am hoping will chime in when time allows - a certain brother in (antique) arms Down Under comes to mind... In revisiting the document to which you had provided a link (originally downloaded after reading Tatyana's thread about a Bhutanese sword with a plated blade a couple years ago), I realize that the corded wrapping on the grip is indeed common. Thanks again for the link, and not knowing if the document has been updated (more pics?) from the iteration already on my desktop, I downloaded it again. With regards to the green discoloration on the udnerside of the base of the hilt, after viewing it with a 20x loupe, I am still rather certain it is pigment. Cheers, Chris

13th July 2013, 09:53 PM	#10
laEspadaAncha Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 608	Bump in the hopes some of our other Tibetan or Bhutanese weapons enthusiasts missed this and might have something to add...